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| December 08, 2006 | Friday | Ziqa'ad 16, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Armed forces fully prepared to face challenges, says Musharraf Quetta, Dec 8 (Agencies): President General Pervez Musharraf reiterated Friday that in the wake of the complex geo-political environment, the armed forces of Pakistan were fully prepared to face any existing and future challenges to its national security. He was addressing officers at the Command and Staff College Quetta on Friday. “Pakistan's strategy of defensive deterrence is in place,…and we shall continue to improve upon it,” he said. The president explained in detail his strategy to deal with the law and order situation in FATA and Balochistan, and also took questions from officers at the end of his address. (Posted @ 20:34 PST)
Pakistani FM proposes returning Afghan refugees to end violence KABUL, Dec 8 (AFP) Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri Friday proposed the repatriation of more than 2.5 million Afghan refugees as a way to stop Taliban militants from infiltrating into Afghanistan. Kasuri told reporters after holding talks with his Afghan counterpart Rangeen Dadfar Spanta that militants infiltrating Afghanistan from Pakistan were Afghan refugees and that sending them back to their home country would help in reducing the violence. The Afghan and Pakistani foreign ministers said in a joint declaration after their talks that "great emphasis" was placed on holding "jirgas" or councils of tribal elders from both sides of the border, but failed to set a date. (Posted @ 20:20 PST)
US claims killing 20 'terrorists'; others say women, children killed TAIMA, Iraq, Dec 8 (AFP)A US air strike Friday killed 20 Iraqis that the military called "terrorists" but local people, including police, said included women and children. Journalists who visited the village of Taima northwest of Baghdad in the aftermath found and photographed relatives weeping over many mangled bodies, including those of at least two children. Police provided the names of 17 dead people, which included those of four women. (Posted @ 23:56 PST)
President Musharraf inaugurates Zarghoon gas field QUETTA Dec 8 (PPI): President General Pervez Musharraf inaugurated the Zarghoon gas field wells here on Friday evening. Musharraf said the short term strategy to meet the electricity needs would be met by 2008, while a mid-term strategy includes 15 projects. He said more electricity would be purchased from Tajikistan and Kyrghystan. (Posted @ 23:54 PST)
Annan lambastes world's failure to halt Darfur tragedy UNITED NATIONS, Dec 8 (AFP) Outgoing UN chief Kofi Annan on Friday lashed out at the world's collective failure to halt the bloodshed in Sudan's Darfur region, in a speech here to mark Human Rights Day. Annan also called for "an anti-terrorism strategy that does not merely pay lip-service to the defense of human rights, but is built on it." Referring to the United States, he said "states cannot fulfil that obligation by themselves violating human rights in the process." (Posted @ 23:46 PST)
Rumsfeld warns against precipitous US withdrawal from Iraq WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (AFP) US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warned Friday that a precipitous US withdrawal from Iraq would be a "terrible mistake" which would threaten the stability not only of Iraq but the region. Rumsfeld, in a farewell "town hall" meeting with Pentagon employees, urged Americans to show patience with the war in Iraq. (Posted @ 23:44 PST)
Three US soldiers killed around Baghdad BAGHDAD, Dec 8 (AFP) Insurgents killed three US soldiers and wounded two others in separate roadside bomb attacks in and around Baghdad, the US military reported Friday. (First Posted @ 20:10 PST Updated @ 23:42 PST)
Asian Games field hockey results DOHA, Dec 8 (AFP) Asian Games men’s field hockey results on Friday:South Korea 3, China 0; India 9; Oman 0. (Posted @ 23:38 PST)
President Musharraf announces Rs100 million package for Balochistan women QUETTA, Dec 8 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday announces a Rs.100 million welfare package for Balochistan women. Addressing a women convention at a local hotel here, he urged the audience to reject extremist elements in the coming 2007 general election. "Mobilize other women and ask them to vote for the moderate people and those who support the policies of present government," he said. (Posted @ 23:34 PST)
2008 withdrawal goal possible: US commander WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (AFP) The withdrawal of most US combat forces from Iraq by early 2008 is possible if Iraqis move toward reconciliation, a top US commander said Friday. Lieutenant General Peter Chiarelli, the commander of the multinational forces in Iraq, said his forces were winning militarily but conceded that progress on the political and reconstruction fronts has not been fast enough. Among the steps that he said would help is to set a date for provincial elections. He also emphasized measures to employ jobless Iraqi youths. (Posted @ 20:40 PST)
Israeli soldiers shoot Palestinian child BETHLEHEM, West Bank, Dec 8 (AFP) A 12-year old Palestinian child was shot and wounded by Israeli soldiers near the West Bank town of Bethlehem Friday, medical and security sources said. (Posted @ 20:38 PST)
U.N. rights council criticizes Israel for ignoring recommendations GENEVA, Dec 8 (AP) The U.N. Human Rights Council passed a seventh resolution criticizing Israel on Friday, this time for the Jewish state's failure to act on earlier recommendations that it end military operations in the Palestinian territories and allow a fact-finding mission to the region. The rights body noted with regret its July resolution urging the release of all arrested Palestinian ministers has yet to be carried out. Pakistani diplomat Tehmina Janjua on behalf of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference demanded that U.N. human rights expert John Dugard be allowed to conduct an ``urgent'' fact-finding in the region. (Posted @ 20:36 PST)
Cricket-Woolmer says happy to see Akhtar, Asif back LAHORE, Pakistan, Dec 8 (AFP) Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said Friday he was happy that Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif had overturned their doping bans. The new-ball pair practised with the team ahead of the third one-day against the West Indies here on Sunday. "Akhtar told me he needs a month and Asif too needs time so they must play some domestic matches. Their return will certainly boost our bowling," Woolmer told reporters. Woolmer said he was satisfied with the judgement. "Both the commissions did the right thing and if you read the appeal committee's judgment, you would be satisfied like I am," said the coach. (Posted @ 20:18 PST)
WADA chief calls Pakistan doping decision `aberrational' BRUSSELS, Belgium, Dec 8 (AP) The World Anti-Doping Agency chief Friday criticized the lifting of doping bans on Pakistani fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed. ``It is certainly aberrational to have a national federation telling the international federation what rules it is going to apply in something like doping,'' WADA chairman Dick Pound said in an interview. Pound said it was too early to say whether WADA would take the case to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport and that it was discussing the matter with the ICC. (Posted @ 20:16 PST)
London bombings led to review of policy on religion and race: Blair LONDON, Dec 8 (AP) Prime Minister Tony Blair told an invited audience at his Downing Street office Friday that it was the duty of all immigrants to integrate into British society. Blair announced plans to more carefully allocate funding to faith groups, claiming grants would no longer be awarded to organizations which fail to promote understanding between different sectors of society. ``We don't want the hate-mongers, whatever their race, religion or creed,'' Blair said. (Posted @ 20:14 PST)
Four policemen killed in land mine attacks in India's northeast GAUHATI, India, Dec 8 (AP) Four policemen were killed Friday when their car hit a land mine in the insurgency-ridden state of Assam in India's remote northeast, police said. (Posted @ 20:12 PST)
Two Russians killed in attack ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia, Dec 8 (AP) A roadside bomb struck a Russian military armored personal carrier outside Grozny on Thursday, killing one serviceman and wounding seven others, police said Friday. In Ingushetia region, gunmen wounded three police officers. Separately, a local judge in Dagestan was killed Friday. Also Friday, lawmakers in the Russian parliament's lower house gave final backing to a bill that would delay the introduction of jury trials in Chechnya from 2007 to 2010. (Posted @ 20:06 PST)
Two suspected militants killed in occupied Kashmir JAMMU, occupied Kashmir, Dec 8 (AP) Indian security forces shot and killed two suspected militants in an alleged gunbattle in the town of Banihal near Jammu on Friday, a police spokesman said. (Posted @ 20:00 PST)
Government committed to end exploitation of women: PM Aziz LAHORE, Dec 8 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday addressed an international conference on the topic 'The Other Self: Conflict Confusion or Compromise' at a local hotel here and reiterated his government's commitment to end exploitation of women in the country. "No nation can progress without fully protecting rights of its women to ensure that they work shoulder to shoulder with men in all fields of life," he said. He informed the audience that a federally funded project costing Rs.418 million was currently under way to cover institutional reforms, women employment opportunities and gender development grants at the district government level. Regarding Kashmir, the prime minister said Pakistan was doing its best to resolve the issue amicably and that the solution would be in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. (First Posted @ 15:50 PST Updated @ 17:26 PST)
Cricket-Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by eight wickets MIRPUR, Bangladesh, Dec 8(AFP) Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by eight wickets in the fourth one-day international here on Friday. Scores: Zimbabwe 146 (Chigumbura 32, Dabengwa 32; Mortaza 6.2-2-14-3, Hossain 10-3-36-2, Razzak 9-2-27-2, Saqibul 10-1-32-2), Bangladesh 147 (Nafees 34, Ahmed 58 not out; Brent 8-0-25-2). (Posted @ 17:22 PST)Live Commentary
Cricket-Pakistan's Younis to miss third one-day match LAHORE, Pakistan, Dec 5 (AFP) Pakistan vice-captain Younis Khan will miss the third one-day international against the West Indies after his brother died in Germany after a failed liver transplant, chief selector Wasim Bari said Friday. "At this moment in time we don't know whether he will be able to play the remainder of the series or not," Bari said. Mohammad Yousuf, who missed the second match at Faisalabad to be with his wife who is expecting a child, will return to the 14-man squad for the third match to be played here on Sunday. (Posted @ 16:50 PST)
Nearly 70,000 killed in 17-year occupied Kashmir insurgency: rights group SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Dec 8 (AP) Nearly 70,000 people died in the 17-year conflict in occupied Kashmir, a local human rights group said Friday. The Jammu-Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society came up with the death toll after reviewing news reports and conducting door-to-door surveys in every district in occupied Kashmir, Khurram Pervez, the head of the group said. Most of the dead were civilians. Pervez said his group's survey of news reports alone shows about 50,000 people have died, but he added, ``We don't subscribe to this figure as newspaper reports are mostly based on police handouts. Neither do we accept the government figure of 41,000.'' (Posted @ 16:34 PST)
Supreme Court of Pakistan suspends lower court order returning Scottish girl to Britain ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (AP) Supreme Court of Pakistan Friday suspended an earlier lower court decision ordering the return of a 12-year-old Scottish girl to Britain, a defence lawyer said. The chief Supreme Court justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, issued the order following an appeal by Sajjad Ahmed Rana, the father of Misbah Iram Ahmed Rana, also known as Molly Campbell. (Posted @ 14:40 PST)
Iraq war shows danger of "jumping the gun:” ElBaradei JAKARTA, Dec 8 (Reuters) The war in Iraq serves as a lesson that countries should not resort to using force before diplomatic efforts have been exhausted, the chief of the U.N. nuclear watchdog IAEA said Friday. Mohamed ElBaradei said his agency felt relieved its pre-war assessment of Iraq's arms programmes was vindicated after no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq. "I hope everybody learns from the Iraq situation. I hope that people will not jump the gun in the future, so to speak, and go and use arms ... unless you are absolutely sure that there's a clear and present danger,” ElBaradei said after a lecture at Indonesia's ministry of research and technology in Jakarta. (Posted @ 13:25 PST)
Bus plunges into snowy mountain ravine in northern Pakistan, 19 killed PESHAWAR, Dec 8 (AP) A bus plunged into a snowy mountain ravine in northern Pakistan early Friday, killing at least 19 passengers and injuring four others, police said. The accident happened during snow fall in the Kohistan region, about 400 kilometers northeast of Peshawar, police officer Jamal Khan said. The bus was travelling between the towns of Abbottabad and Gilgit. The cause of the accident was not immediately clear. Khan said the dead and injured were transported to a local hospital. (Posted @ 11:50 PST)
Cricket-Australian batsman Damien Martyn announces retirement MELBOURNE, Dec 8 (Reuters) Australian batsman Damien Martyn has announced his retirement from first-class cricket with immediate effect, Cricket Australia said on Friday. (First Posted @ 09:20 PST, Updated @ 10:50 PST)
Mussa praises US Mideast report, urges diplomatic action WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (AFP) Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa on Thursday praised a high-level US panel that called for a diplomatic push for Middle East peace, saying the time was ripe for concerted international action. Mussa called the Iraq Study Group's report "very interesting, full of very sound recommendations" after holding talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. (Posted @ 10:50 PST)
Sri Lanka 125 for eight, lead New Zealand by 73 CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Dec 8 (AFP) Sri Lanka were 125 for eight at stumps on the second day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand, giving them an overall lead of 73 with two wickets in hand. Kumar Sangakkara was not out 63. New Zealand were out earlier for 206, for a first innings lead of 52. (Posted @ 10:45 PST)Live Commentary
Karachi Stocks down 80.71 points: KARACHI, Dec 08: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10561.97, down 80.71 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:05 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Dec 08: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.92 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:05 PST)
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